Car-coupling.



W. S. LENNON.

GAB- GOUPLING.

APPLICATION TILED JULY 30,. 1908.

939,720. Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

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@QM/MMM@ Z672 l W; S. LENNON.

GAR COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 30,1908. 9399"?20. Patented N0v.9,1909.

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W. s. LENNON.

GAR GOUPLING.

APPLIGALION FILED JULY 30, 1908.

939,720. Patented Nav. 9, i909A 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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9j WV a iso WATSON S. LENNON, OF TUCSON, ARIZONA TERRITORY.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

Application tiled July 30, 1908. Serial No. 446,144.

' To all whom it -naz/ z/ concern:

operated car couplers.

One object orn the invention is to provide an automatic ear coupler which may be operated without requiring the brakeman to pass between the cars, and which is simple in construction and etli'cient in operation.

Another object 'of the invention is to provide an automatic coupler which will be sleet and ice proof.

Another object is to provide a coupler ot this class which may be easily coupled without excessive jamming when the cars are on a curve.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists ot' certain novel features of construction, combination and arrange- 'ment ofparts as will he more` fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying' drawings, Figure l represents a top plan view of a car coupler constructed in accordance with this invention; Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view thereof; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section; Fig'. el is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig'. l; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the. knuckle detached: Fig'. G is a perspective view taken from the end ot' the drawhead with the knuckle removed: Fig. 7 is a similar view of the operatingV member: Fig. S is a perspective view of the locking` device detached; Fig. 9 is a .horizontal sectional view through the drawhead with the knuckle and locking' device removed; Fig. l0 is a vertical sec# tional View taken on the line 10-10 Fig. 9: and Fig. l1 is an end view taken from the front of the drawhead with the knuckle removed and the locking device in operative position therein In theembodiinent illustrated a draivhead,

' l, is shownha-vingr a buffer, 2, a pair of ver- This invention relates to automatically tical spaced ears, 3 and 4, adapted to receive 55 therebetween a knuckle or coupling member, 5, of the pinless type. The butter, 2, may be omitted when the coupler is to be used upon passenger cars, but is used if desirable for freight cars.

The drawhead, l, is madeA hollow and is provided with a pair of opposite arcuate lugs or ribs, 6 and 7, having beveled faces 6 and 7 to form an outwardly liar-ed slot-like opeuinglfor the reception of one end of the knuckle 5, hereinafter described. The'se ribs 6 and 7 terminate at their outer sides in vertically disposed shoulders as 8 which are curved laterally and inwardly and the inner sides of said ribs terminate in vertically disposed shoulders as 8 which are curved-laterally outward and in connection with the shoulders 8 form the rib-.like upper and lower guides 6 and 7 for the knuckle 5, in its lateral swingingmovement.. The rear end-of the knuckle, 5, shown in detail in Fig. 5, is provided on its upper and lower faces with curved recesses, 9, and 10, extending the entire 'width of the knuckle and having arc-shaped shoulders, as 11, forming the outer walls thereof, the bottom l2, and l2 of said recesses 9, and 10, being inclined inwardly in opposite directions and curved laterally to adapt them to fit the i11- clined or beveled faces, 6 and 7 of the drawhead. V ertically disposed shoulders as 13 forni the inner walls of said recesses, 9 and l0, and are curved laterally outward to correspond with the curvature of the shoulders 8 ot' the drawhead with which they are adapted to engage; the outer shoulders l1 of the knuckle engage the inner shoulders 8 of the head, and the beveled faces 12, and 12 are 'in operative enga ement with the correspondingly beveled aces .6 and 7 of the drawhead lugs 'or ribs 6 and 7. The knuckle, 5, is also provided on its upper and lower faces near its froht end with laterally curved concave shoulders as 5 for coperation with the edges of the curved ends of "the` ears 3, and, 4. The `face ofthe rear 'end "of this knuckle v5 is provided `with a cammember' preferably formed bygmntting out a ort-ion of said face to forni' a diagonally disposed shoulder 14 extendingfrom the lower inner end of said face toits outer upper end, said shoulder being curved slightlyoutward longitudinally toward its u'pper end. Atthelower cuter corner of said rear knuckle face is formed a v,stop ing, 15, projecting 'in a longitudinal direction for a purpose to he l The .rear face *of*` the knuckle is also providedat its'inner end with an an' described,

gular recess 18 which extends. preferably aboutl -threefourths of the hei ht' of the knuckle terminatingl lnear the owerl face in the drawhead, '1,in position to swingLinto i thepath ofthe rear, end of said knuckle, 5,

to lock the knuckle in operative position.

This member, l1l5,"is preferably constriyiotedy 3 5 shown in Fig. 8 in the form of a. wedge- 'like block with'integral studs, 17`v and 18, extending laterally 'fvfroin lopposite sides of its lsmall endl and which are designedtooperate in bearings 'in said 'head,l, tolprovidefor 2c the pivotal'. movement of said member, 16."

from the operating The iarge. free end of'said meinbenvl, is`

3o init it to rest againstlthe upper wall of the l hollow draw/head, 1, when raised rinto 1noperative position, 'and'.alsoto serve as a' stop for member 16. i" 1 An operating member, 20, is pivotally s'inounted to swing vertically in open bearings 9.1-see Figs. '2` andi) within said drawhead, 1, and is preferably constructed as shown in Fig. Tin the form of an approxlmately elbow- -O uo Jer and lower edoes with one end referf e5 arm, 22, has an .upturned free end provided ably made wider than the other and having an arm, 22, projectingl laterally from one side ci said lever, Q1,- and which extends longitudinally beyond the end thereof. rlhis with a slightly convened upper face, 23,

which is designed to engage the cam-like shoulder 1d on the rear end of the knuckle, 5, and when the ur1n, 22, is swung upwardly v5G on the actuation of the lever the convexed l free end of the arm, 22, is forced there-v face, Q3, thereof engages the cam 1d of the knuckle end forces-said end forward and opens the knuckle. The lug, 15, on the outward swinging of the kn'uckle comes in con- 5 tact with the lower face of the arm, 29 and the endof the lever, 2l, and holds the knuckle k'against accidental disconnection from the drawhead. This lug,.15, preferably has its inner face curved and when the against causes the knuckle to move inward into operative or locking position. A slot, 2s, extends transversely of the lower face .of the drawhead in whichihe arm, 22, is designed to vhe housed when not in use and A llockingeler'nen't 16 is pivotally mounted,

vlower facethus lassuming' shaped lever'2l, having curvedwhichwhenl l sohoused will .permit the knuckle to' be lswung forward and disconnected from the -drawhead when desired.

It will be observed that the lheavy free end of the block, 416, causes it to normally fall by gravity between the rear face of the knuckle, 5, and the adjacent side 4Wall of the drawhead whereby said knuckle is locked in operative position and when the free -end'of the lev, 2,1; is raisedit'passes under the of the block, v16, whereby said blockvisv raised-and held in elevated posil `tion and the' arm, 22, 'simultaneously engages fthe Cain member on the face of the knuckle,

5, and forces saidface forward while the block, 16, is held out of its path, said knuckle an open position' and when the knuckle is f .the drawhead, 1, and thel ear, 4, are provided with ahorizontally extending plate, 25., forming a pocket to catch the knuckle of the4 other drawhead should said knuckle for any reason become `detached from the car.' This-pocket serves. to prevent the coupling member from fall- The lower lpart o l l closed the free end of the block, -'16,'will drop downward 'to lock said knuck-lein closed position, g5 'i ing uponthe track and causinga serious.

accident. y

' In the operationof this device the coupler `beingloc'ked in closed position, to release it,

it is necessary to pullupon a' rod,26, connectecl with the lever, 21', which causes the free end'of 'said lever to ,swing upwardly and raise -the;block, 16, and immediatelythereafter the arm, 22, engages the cam loo member of the knuckle and swings said knuckle into open position, Y thus uncouplngthe cars. -v To couplethe cars, the knuckles being 1n openposition 1t is necessary only to jamv them together when the knuckles will engage with each other-and the blocks, 16, will drop down by gravity and lock said knuckles in operative position. yF rom the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying vdrawings, the construction andoperation of the invention will be readily understood ,vithout requiring a more extended explanation.

' Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details, of construction muy be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention-as defined in the appended claims. Y

I claim as my invention l 1. 1n a car coupler the combination of a hollow drawhead a knuckle mounted to swing laterall therein, the inner free end of said knuck e being provided with a face 'adapted to lie opposite one'face of said-hole.

low drawhead when' in operative position, a' I locking member constructed to lie between J saidfaccs when the knuckle is in closed posi:

` form guides for said knuckle y tion and means operable in one direction for lie between the t'ree end of the knuckle and.

the side wall of the drawhead and a vertically movable lever for releasing said block and swinging said knuckle into open or closed position. y

In a car coupler the combination of a hollow drawhead provided at one side with vertically spaced arcuate shoulders extending a portion oi the width of the head, the lower wall or bottom of said head having a recess arranged adjacent the lower arcuate shoulder, thelower wall of said recess'having an aperture therein, a lever fulcrumed intcrmcdiately ot its ends at the inner end of said recess with one end projecting through said aperture* and the other end housed normally within said recess and a knuckle mounted to swing laterally in said drawhcad and provided at its inner end with vertically spaced arcuate shoulders for engagement with the shoulders of the drawhead to and prevent its accidental disengagement and a cam arranged on the rear face of said knuckle for engagement by said lever to' provide for the' opening of the knuckle.

i. In a car coupler the combination of a hollow' d awhead provided at one side with vertically spaced arcuate shoulders extending a portion of the width of the head, the lower recess arranged adjacent the lower arcuate shoulder the lower wall of said recess having an aperture therein, a lever fulcrumed intermediately of its ends at the inner end of' said recess with one end projecting through wall or bottom of said head having" a4 said aperture and the other end housed normally Within said recess and a knuckle mounted to swing laterally in said draw` head and provided at its inner end with vertically spaced arcuate shoulders for engagement with the shoulders of the drawhead to form guides for said knuckle and prevent accidental disengagement, a cani arranged diagonally on the rear face of said knuckle for engagement by said lever to move the knuckle into open position vand means carried by said knuckle for engagement by said lever for throwing said knuckle into closed position.

Inv a` car coupler the combination of a v hollow drawhead provided at one side with vertically spaced arcuate shoulders extending a portion ot' the Width of the head, the lower wall or bottom of said head having arecess arranged adjacent the lower arcuate shoulder, the lower wall of said recess having an aperture therein, a leverY fulcrumed intermediately of its ends atI the inner end of said recess with one end projecting through said aperture and the other end housed normally within said recess and a knuckle mounted to swing laterally'in said drawhead and provided at its inner end with' vertically spaced arcuate shoulders for engagement with the shoulders of the drawhead to form guides for said knuckle and n In testimony whereof I have hereunto seti my hand 1n presence-of two subscribing witmesses.

WATSON S. LENNON.

VVi-tnesses:

'BENTON Dior, LOUIS S. ARNOLD. 

